ASTON Villa went to the home of giant killing in the Capital One Cup and found out why League Two Bradford City have been so dangerous.

Arsenal could not cope at Valley Parade and went out on penalties and Wigan could not beat them even on their own turf, also losing on spot-kicks.

Winning that way again might have to wait for Bradford until the second leg of this semi-final in a fortnight, but Villa know they have a problem if they are going to be in with a chance of going to Wembley.

Nahki Wells put Bradford ahead early in the first half and Rory McArdle followed that with a second-half header, before Carl McHugh’s towering header two minutes from time finished the job.

It was an historic night for Bradford who were in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time.

Wasted chance after wasted chance, with Christian Benteke and Darren Bent the main culprits, plus a superb display by Bradford keeper Matt Duke, left Villa with a big game to win back at their own place. Villa brought back top scorer Benteke after being rested on Saturday in the FA Cup especially for this tie, and Charles N’Zogbia was given a dangerous role behind an attacking front three.

And Benteke could have had a hat-trick in less than a quarter of an hour with two headers wide and a one-on-one with Duke that finished with him saving a weak shot.

The last time a fourth tier team got this far in this competition it was Wycombe, managed by Paul Lambert, six years ago, so there should have been nothing Bradford could offer as a surprise.

Lambert has his problems bedding down his new young Villa side in the Premier League, and they are very much in a relegation fight.

But they have been outstanding in this competition, winning at Manchester City, Norwich and a difficult game at Swindon. Against Arsenal Bradford were ahead in 16 minutes before eventually getting through in a shoot-out, and they followed the first part of that script again to lead Villa after 19 minutes.

Benteke did not clear Gary Jones’ corner effectively and Zavon Hines tried a shot that was not too good either, but the ball deflected and Wells was the quickest to realise the potential.

Hines was back again in the 34th minute, taking on the left-hand side of Villa’s defence and skipping through, before trying a shot which goalkeeper Shay Given had problems with before saving. Given was close to being beaten again in the 36th minute when, from another Jones corner, James Hanson powered in a header which Villa found difficult.

That early Villa promising attacking and Benteke’s wasted chances seemed a long time ago as Bradford dominated, but, just before half-time, Gabby Agbonlahor was close to equalising with a drive which Duke saved.

Villa repeated their first-half trick at the start of the second period, Benteke spurning a chance, Ciaran Clark being far to slow with another opportunity, Benteke having a diving header saved by Duke and the keeper adding to that by denying Agbonlahor’s drive.

The character of the tie had been altered and Bradford, despite being in front, were getting battered and forced to hold on. But the danger was when Villa had to defend.

They are not very good at that, as 17 goals conceded in four league games indicates, and Bradford were very aware of what might be on offer.

Lambert decided to add new power in the 56th minute though, replacing Agbonlahor with substitute Bent, as Villa went for the equaliser.

Bent missed yet another Villa chance when he could not head in from a few yards, injuring himself in the process, and it was costly when central defender McArdle struck with his 75th minute header.